Hello love,
I wanted to talk about Emotional Eating and Body Image issues and how they are interconnected and how we need to break this vicious cycle.
Body image issues tend to trigger Emotional Eating issues and Emotional Eating triggers Body Image issues. It’s a vicious cycle.
In order to break this cycle we have to get to the root of the Emotional Eating pattern.
Body image issues are an integral part of this pattern. When we are shaming the way our body looks and ourselves this can trigger Emotional Eating. This Emotional Eating can then trigger more body shame.
When I was struggling with emotional eating part of the reason I struggled was because I wanted to control my body. I wanted it to “look” a certain way. Restriction and diets was a way to combat my body to get that certain body.
I thought if I finally looked the way I thought I should I would feel seen, validated, accepted and loved.
And get the attention I was craving. That was a big motivation for me.
When I finally reached that goal, that pinnacle it was very fleeting. The external validation didn’t fill the void that I felt. I spiralled and I finally realized I needed to do something different and figure this out in a sustainable way.
I see this with a lot of clients, sometimes they reach their goal where they thought they would finally feel ok but they feel empty and spiral back into their Emotional Eating patterns.
Why is this happening?
If you are trying to feel good from only the way you look or to fill that void it can’t. You need to get into the roots of this pattern.
Because that deep shame and not feeling accepted or loved needs to be filled from the inside. This doesn’t mean we don’t need external validation or compliments. But if we are only relying on that without doing the deeper work it will fall flat and we won’t be able to receive the compliments.
Check out the video below at the timestamps to dive deeper:
- 2:50 Why we spiral back into old patterns of Emotional Eating after reaching our goal
- 3:50 How to stop being triggered by body shame into Emotional Eating
- 4:24 Acceptance isn’t what you think it is!
- 5:45 The deeper reason we can’t get to Body Acceptance
- 6:35 The impact self criticism has on the body and nervous system
- 7:30 Learning to trust ourselves + our body
- 8:00 Meeting your needs to dissolve body shame
- 9:14 Body acceptance is a key to dissolving triggers to Emotional Eating
Next Steps
1. If you are ready to start your journey to resolving your Emotional Eating you can download my free guide “What Are You Truly Hungry For?” to start discerning true from emotional hunger and catching your triggers HERE.
2. If you are ready to transform your emotional eating so that you can get to ease, peace and confidence around food and in your body with a step by step process and guidance then find out more about The Emotional Eating Evolution Program HERE.
To acceptance,
~Michelle
Certified Holistic Nutritionist Specializing in Emotional Eating
